Windmill



(No Model.) 3 Shets-Sheet' 1.

JpOPPERUD an. 1. BRORBY.

' WINDMILL.

No. 488,087. Patented Dec. 13, 1892.

7 1.7270017 IEZ'UJ'Z M 539M fix/g5.

m: Nouns PETERS cu. Pnu'ro-umq. WASNINQTON, o. c.

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH OPPERUD AND JACOB I. BRORBY, OF MADISON, SOIITH DAKOTA.

WINDMILL.

V SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,087, datedDecember 13, 1892.

- Application filed October 23, 1890. Serial No. 369,123. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOSEPH OPPERUD and JACOB I. BRORBY, of Madison, inthe county of Lake and State of South Dakota, have invented certainImprovements in Windmills,

I of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in windmills of that class inwhich the fans or wings are independently pivoted upon anglespokesextending from a common hub upon the power-shaft and connected with ahorizontally-movable spring-actuated shaft, whereby the angle of thefans or wings presented to the wind is automatically adjusted orregulated by the force or power of the wind.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of suchwindmills, whereby superior advantages are obtained with respect toefiiciency in operation.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a sectional longitudinalelevation of a windmill embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is an edge viewof one of the windmill-fans. Fig. 8 is a vertical elevation of thewind-wheel as shown from behind the wheel, all of the fans being thereinshown in position almost squarely across the wind. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 aredetail views showing the construction of the various parts of themachine.

It is not deemed necessary to illustrate fully the tower upon which themechanism is raised and supported. The upper ends of the towertimbers 2,however, are shown in Figs. 1 and 3 in connection with the cap-plate 3and the base-supporting plate 4, the cap-plate 3 being provided with atop plate or ring 74, having an inwardly-projecting flange 74, formingan annular opening or groove, in which is located a series offriction-wheels 5, j ournaled in the said top plate and cap-plate bymeans of short axles 7, engaging in slots 8. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) Thetop and cap plates are formed with concentric annular openings, throughwhich passes the shank 9 of the dome 10. The lower end of the shank 9 isfirmly held in position by the base-plate 4, provided with a circularopening, through which passes a slotted sleeve 11, inserted in the lowerend of said shank and removably secured thereto by bolts 12. The lowerend of the sleeve is formed with an annular flange 11 forming ashoulder, which abuts against the lower side of plate 4. The lower' endof shank 9 rests upon the upper side of said plate, and by these meansthe working parts are supported and the shank prevented from anyvertical movement. The upper part of the dome is of somewhatgreatrdiameter than the shank, forming a shoulder 14 above the top plate 74,and is provided with a removable cap or'cover 15. It will thus be seenthat the dome and its shank form a closed cylinder or housing, theshank, however, being provided on one side with a slot 16, by

which access may be had to the-interior,

the split pin 28, passing through the end of 1 the shaft. The lowerend-of the gear-block 21 rests on the shoulder 29, formed on the interior of the dome, while the bearing-sleeve thereof'extends through arectangular open:v

ing 30 in the wall of the dome and is secured 5 thereto by means ofbolts. 1

The crank-pin 32 is secured to the face of the gear 25 in any suitablemanner, which gear is provided with a series of openings to receive thesame at varying distancesfrom the center in order to vary the stroke ofthe pump-rod. The pitman 33 connects the crank pin with a similar pin 34on the pump-rod 35. This rod moves up and down in bearings 36 and 37 inthe sleeve 11 and the dome-shank 9. An oil-cup is provided in thebearing 37.

The power-shaft 17 is hollow and receives a small shaft 38, extendingfrom the spider 39 to the block 40. This shaft plays back and forththrough the hollow shaft as the sails or fans move in and out. In thedrawin gs six sails or fans are shown, although this number may bevaried. These sails areexact duplicates of each other and areapproximately triangular in shape with the apex or inner point of eachcut-off, so as to be properly connected with the hub. Each fan is madeas shown in Fig. 2, so as to present a concave surface to the action ofthe wind, and is strengthened by means of stay-rods 43. Each of thesestay-rods is provided with an arm 75, extending therefrom at an angleboth to the plane of the rod 43 and to a perpendicular erected therein.These rods are linked to the spider 39 by connecting-rods 45. The fansor sails are pivoted to bearings 46 upon the angle-spokes 47, extendingfrom the hub 22. As shown, each spoke is bent in such a way as to carrythe outer portion of the spoke away from the hub at almost a tangentthereto, so that the parts 49 of the spoke stand at an angle of aboutforty-five degrees to theinner end of the spoke bywhich the same issecured to the hub.

The rod or shaft 38 extends through an opening 71 in the front of thedome and is screwed into the head 52, secured to the twopartswivel-block 40. This block is shown in detail in Figs. 1, 13, 14, and15. A rod 53 extends from the forward part of the block 40 and isprovided with a series of holes 54 to receive a pin 70, holding theouter end of a spring 56. By means of these holes andpins the tension ofthe spring can be regulated.

This spring is secured to the dome at its other end, being formed with ayoke 55, (see Figs. 6 and 7,) provided with eyes which engage with studs57, formed on the dome.

The hub 22, as shown in Figs. 22 and 23, is

of peculiar construction, and consists of twoplates provided withnotches 90, having the enlarged inner ends 58, adapted to engage thesides of the spokes 47 and the flanged orupset ends of the same. Bolts59 extend through the plates and are secured togetherby nuts-60.

A rope 61 extends up through an opening 62 in the sleeve 11 and isconnected with a short piece of wire cable 63, passing over a sheave 64and secured to the swivel-block 40. By pulling upon this rope the rod 38is forced that their edges will be presented to'the wind. The spokes 47extend beyond the sails and are connected together by tie-rods 66. Theloop 67 slips over the ends of the spokes in each case and is securedthereon by the nut 68.

The operation will be readily understood. As the sails are revolved bythe wind the pump-rod will be reciprocated by the powershaft andconnections. When the force of the wind is so great as to overcome thetension of the spring 56, the sailswill turnupon their pivots and bethrown more or less out of the line of the wind. As the force of thewind decreases, the spring will cause the sails to be returned to normalposition. The tension of the spring can be regulated by means of theholes 54 and pin 70. By pulling upon the cord or rope 61 the 'sails canbe turned with their edges to the wind, so as to offer no resistancethereto.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1'. In awindmilhthe combination, with the dome or housing, the rotatable hollowpowershaft, the pump rod and connections, and

'the hub and angle-spokes, of the sails pivoted to said spokes, thehorizontally-movable shaft passing through said power-shaft, connectedat one end with the sails and at its other end provided with a barhaving a series of holes, the bent spring secured at one end to the domeand its other end provided with an eye, and the pin passing through saideye and the holesi-n the said bar, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. In a windmill, the combination, with the dome or housing, therotatable hollow powershaft, the pump-rod and connections, and the huband angle-spokes, of the sails pivoted to saidspokesflhehorizontally-movable shaft passing through the power-shaft connectedwith the sails, the two-part swivelblock provided with a head connectedwith said movable shaft, the bifurcated rod secured to said block,provided with a series of holes, the bent spring secured at one endtothe dome and provided at its other end with an eye, and the pinpassing through said eye fans and the angle-spokes therefor, having 1their portions 49 at an angle with their ends 50, engaging the hub onthe power-shaft, said 1 fans being substantially triangular andpresenting concave surfaces to the action of the wind, of the stay-rods43, having the eyebearings 46 and extending between the ends of thefans, said stay-rods being located inpositions forward of the middlepoints of said fans, and the arms 75, engaging the governorrod 38 bymeans of the spider 39 and the links f45, and the spring connected withsaid rodf38 and tending to normally draw said rod forward, substantiallyas described.

outward or back, so as to shift the sails so 4. The combination, inawindmilh of fans 41, each consisting of a substantially-triangu- Tlarplate of suitable material, said plate being curved to present a concavesurface to the action of the wind, the rod 43, extending between theends of the fan and placed for ward of the middle thereof, and meanswhereby said fans are pivotally connected with the spokes of the wheel,substantially as described.

5. The combination, in a windmill, of the dome 10 with the shank 9,means whereby said dome is pivoted upon the top of the tower, thepower-shaft 17, the rod 38, adapted to move longitudinally therein, thebearing-block 21, provided within the dome and having bearings for thepower-shaft 17 and for the shaft 26, the gear 25, secured on said shaft26, the springr36, secured to the forward side of the dome, theswivel-block 40, the rod 25, having the openings 54 and a pin 55,engaging the outer end of said spring, the bracket 20, provided with thebearing 18, the hub 22, the spokes 47, rigidly extending therefrom, thefans 41, pivoted upon said spokes, arms 44, provided on said fans, thespider 39, and the links 45, connecting said arms and fan, substantiallyas and for the IQ purposespeoified.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 8th day ofOctober, 1890.

JOSEPH 'OPPERUD.

JACOB I. BRORBY.

In presence of- N. M. STOTT, L. M. Sooeem.

